News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-11-03
OUR BEASTS OF BURDEN.
An Irishman who Tanned Horses by
Sweetly Whispering to Them.
From The Utica Herald.1


There was formerly living in the coun-
ty of Cork, Ireland, a family who laid
claim to the possession of secret by
which the widest or most vicious horse
could be tanned. This secret is said to
have been originally impaired by Bo-
hemian gypsy to the then head of the
family a century and a half ago and to
have been regularly transmitted, as
parting legacy at the time of death,
from the father to the eldest son. Pos
sibly there may be residing in county
Cork scion of this family still practis-
ing, with more or less success, the art of
"horse whispering;;" but it is an indis-
putable fact that at the commencement
of the present century the fame of Con
Sullivan, the then head of the family,
for miraculous cures of vicious horses,
had spread far and wide throughout Ire
land.
Among the many well attested ac-
counts of the wonderful achievements
of Con Sullivan, ''the whisperer y the
services which he rendered to Col.
Westenra, who afterwards succeeded to
the title of Rossmore, were the talk Of
the whole country The Colonel had
splendid race horse called Rainbow, and
he was anxious to run him at the races
on the curragh of Kildare; but he was
so wild and vicious that his owner found
that he must give up all thoughts of
bringing him out and running him.
He would bite every one who went near
him (like the present Lord Falmouth's
brute, Muley Edris, who "savaged" the
late Fred Archers arm), and it was ne
cessary to tie up his head when the groom
who attended him was with him. IL
horse Glanced to be near him he was
sure to bite him or try to; and the legs
of the jockey who attempted to mount
him did not escape his fangs. Lord
Doneraile said he knew person who
coul1 cure him. The Colonel could not
believe him, and wager of G1, 900 was
laid on the matter. A messenger was
despatched for Con Sullivan, who was
known throughout the country side rs
the whisperer, from the supposition
that he whispered into the horses ear,
by which means he quieted such as We're
unrulv. When he was told the state of
Col. Westenra's horse he desired to go
into the stable to see him. "You must
wait till his head is tied up" was said
and repeated by those who were pres
ent.
"No OCCASION" said Con, che won't
bite me"
So in he went, after peremptorily
ordering no one to follow him till q
given signal should imply that they had
his permission. He then shut the door
for the unenviable tete-a-tete. In little
more than a quarter of an hour the sig
nal was heard. Those present who had
-, 4Io
rushed in. They found the horse ex-
tended on his back, playing like kitten
with the whisperer, who was quietly sit
ting by him. Both horse and operator
appeared exhausted, particularly the
latter, to whom it was necessary to adj
minister brandy and other stimulants
before he could be revived. The horse
was perfectly tame and gentle from that
day.
In the spring of 1904 Mr.. Whaley's
King Pippin was brought out to run at
the curragh of Kildare. He has been
described as horse of the most savage
and vicious disposition; he had habit
of flying ut and worrying any person
who came near him. When he could
turn his head round he would seize his
riders leg with his teeth and drag him
from his back. The difficulty of man
aging such horse may be conceived,
and on this occasion it was impossible
to put bride on him. The whisperer
was now sent for. He remained shut
up in the stable all night. In the morn
ing King Pippin was seen following
him like dog-lying down at the word
of command and permitting any person,
without resistance, to put his hand into
his mouth, while he stood ''gentle as
lamb" He was brought out in the
course of the meeting, was run, and won
the race.